She has lost several family members and friends to cancer, including her mum Jill Farmery, who was 65 when she died suffering lung, back and liver cancer.

Her sister, Anne Shave, was also recovering from breast cancer when she caught pneumonia and died aged 57, two years ago.

Mrs Mander said: “I lost my sister and mum, and more recently my uncle, plus many more good people over the years. I am watching my best friend and two of my aunties fight for their lives now.

“It has just been horrible, it just seems that for 90 per cent of them cancer has been involved and I just have to do something. If I can save one person it will be worth it.”

Mrs Mander, who works for Force Technologies in Marlborough, will tackle the event alongside work colleagues Karen Salmon and Francesca Goodman.

Miss Goodman, 27, of Marlborough, and Mrs Salmon, 47, of Shalbourne, also have personal reasons for completing the ride and have raised money for cancer charities in the past.

Mrs Mander said: “I couldn’t do it on my own. I have been terrified about this ride. Without them I would have probably backed out.

“I’m going to be on the saddle for a lot longer than I have ever been and I’m not sure if I’m fit enough yet. Everyone is being very positive saying ‘it doesn’t matter how slow you go’. All of us got road bikes for Christmas. Karen got hers first and Francesca and I couldn’t keep up so we had to get ours as well.

“I would very much like to have some donations just to start me off and to make me feel encouraged because it’s a big thing for me.”